The EGS Senior Team
GlobalTeam™ members are located on the ground in 25 countries. Among our GlobalTeam™ members are experts in licensing, distribution, market research, technology, manufacturing, government relations, legal and other keys areas for international business success.
These are highly experienced, successful people that EGS has developed a close working relationship with and whom EGS trusts to help and represent our Clients.
EGS also has a special relationship with the U.S. Commercial Service around the world that allows our Clients access to cost effective, shared marketing services.
Our Principals have over 100 years of experience in over 60 countries, across many business sectors and cultures, as operating executives.
William Edwards, CEO of EGS
An Executive with 39 years of international operations, development, executive and entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Edwards has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey and the USA.
“To his many Clients who are going global, Bill ‘oversees overseas’ ”, Franchise Times, June/July 2009.
Since EGS was founded in 2001, Mr. Edwards has advised more than 50 US companies in the licensing, manufacturing, retail and restaurant sectors on their international development in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin
America, North America and the Middle East.
From 1990-2001, Mr. Edwards worked with the AlphaGraphics, Inc. global digital print group as the company’s master licensee in China and Eastern Europe and also as the company’s USA-based
Senior International Executive growing the company’s global network from 4 to 24 countries.
Prior to his licensing and consulting career, Mr. Edwards had a 20-year oil and gas sector career with Atlantic Richfield and Ashland Oil while living in Alaska, China, Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Turkey and the continental US. He was involved in oil and gas exploration in Alaska and Indonesia as well as directing Atlantic Richfield’s exploration program inside China and establishing the company’s subsidiary in Turkey. Subsequently, Mr. Edwards founded an international oil and gas company and served as Senior International Development Advisor for Ashland Oil.
A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Mr. Edwards is also a Member of the International Franchise Association Supplier Forum and is an Instructor on international licensing for the ICFE program. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of IBS, an Istanbul-based market research group.
Since 2001, Mr. Edwards has published the GlobalVue™ country-ranking tool quarterly to help companies decide which are the best countries for the profitable development of their business.
Specialty: Planning, Food & Beverage, Retail, Service and special projects
William Gabbard, Senior Director
William started his own company immediately after college. Two years later he began franchising his concept and by 1996 he had a total of over 800 units operating in 26 countries around the world. Following the sale of his company owned and franchise system, William began consulting as the CEO/President of a publicly traded firm in the International and Domestic management of established franchise operations.
Subsequently, William took a position as the Vice President of Domestic/International franchise operations for an established 20-year-old franchise chain starting a new concept and awarded over 100 franchise territories within 4 years. In 2004, William partnered with two other well-known franchise experts to acquire a children’s exercise franchise. In 2008, the International Franchise Association awarded this franchise system “The Rocky Mountain Excellence in Franchising” award for “Best New Concept”.
William has assisted franchise systems from the QSR and casual dining sectors to service franchisors in the packaging, logistics, children’s learning, and mobile operations to business to business, to business to consumers. This effort led to the awarding over 40 master licenses for numerous franchise firms around the world.
Specialty: Food & Beverage
Ray Hays, Senior Director
Ray Hays is a international executive with a 20‐year track record developing and supporting global operations. Mr. Hays has field experience in over 50 countries, including 24 new-country launches.
With a focus on international expansion of franchisors, Mr. Hays has served in a range of management roles in education, IT solutions, hospitality, healthcare and business services.
At Choice Hotels International in the early 90’s, Mr. Hays oversaw international PR during the peak of the franchisor’s global growth.
From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Hays served in various international roles with AlphaGraphics, including Director of International Sales & Marketing, as well as Regional Director of Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
New Horizons Computer Learning Centers recruited Mr. Hays in 2001 as Director of International Franchise Development. After completing Master License deals in 5 new international markets, Mr. Hays was promoted to Director of Franchise Operations.
In 2004, Comfort Keepers senior care appointed Mr. Hays as Director of International to launch their global franchise expansion. Under his leadership, Comfort Keepers’ international program was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce with the Excellence in Global Business Award in 2006.
Mr. Hays currently serves as a Member of the District Export Council (DEC) in Arizona, and formerly served as a DEC Member in California and Ohio.
Mr. Hays holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BS from Georgetown University. He is fluent in Spanish with a working knowledge of Portuguese. In 2007, Mr. Hays was recognized as a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) by the International Franchise Association.
Robert Shaw, CFE, Senior Advisor
Robert G. Shaw, Certified Franchise Executive, has over 25 years of experience in international and U.S. business development. His experience includes business-to-business and business-to-consumer market segments and spans both retail and non-retail businesses with publicly traded and privately owned firms.
As EGS Managing Director, Mr. Shaw has helped a number of EGS clients enter new international markets around the world in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. While doing so, he has been a featured speaker in franchise conferences around the world.
As a senior international corporate executive for leading franchise brands, Mr. Shaw engineered and led the development of $100 million international businesses, 600 international retail locations, franchised operations in over 50 countries as well as the development of corporate regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Singapore and Tokyo.
His international franchise expertise helped companies earn prestigious recognition such as Fortune magazine’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Forbes magazine’s 200 Best Small Companies, Business Week’s 100 Hot Growth Companies and Entrepreneur International magazine’s number one international business services franchise.
Specialty: Marketing, Education, Service and Sports
Michelle McClurg, Director of Operations
Michelle McClurg’s background includes 30 years with AT&T with an emphasis on new initiatives, process improvements and cost reductions. Ms. McClurg has provided project management leadership for several Fortune 100 companies including IBM, AT&T and Hewlett-Packard. She has successfully directed global projects in more than 31 countries, setting new standards in client satisfaction.
Ms. McClurg has also worked with several franchisors in their development and operations efforts. As the Director of Franchise Relations, Ms. McClurg planned and facilitated franchise training programs and domestic and international Discovery Days. She has managed the successful openings of multiple new franchise locations, including planning, budgeting, loan acquisition, construction, equipment and décor. Additionally Ms. McClurg was responsible for the design, development, and delivery of procedures, processes, forecasting and tracking the Franchise Resale Program and International Franchise Development Program.
She has successfully executed multiple concurrent global projects and has received numerous awards and accolades from companies and customers alike. Ms. McClurg has been the recipient of five National Excellence Awards for sales, client satisfaction, process improvements and cost initiatives in addition to regional and local commendations and awards. Ms. McClurg has been a licensed real estate broker in the State of Colorado for more than 10 years. She is a member of the National Realtor Association, the Colorado Realtor Association and local real estate organizations.
Specialty: Operations and Logistics
